Joint Circular No. 06/2006/TTLT/BTNMT-BNV-BNG-BQP guiding the management of surveying and mapping work concerning administrative boundaries and national borders

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for managing surveying and mapping work related to administrative boundaries and national borders

To unify the management of surveying and mapping work related to administrative boundaries and national borders nationwide; the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, and National Defense provide guidelines as follows:

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Pursuant to Decree No. 12/2002/NĐ-CP dated January 22, 2002 of the Government on surveying and mapping activities;

These Circulars stipulate the management of surveying and mapping work related to administrative boundaries at all levels and national borders on land, at sea, and the demarcation lines of maritime zones under the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Section 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

1. The state agency responsible for managing the surveying and mapping work related to administrative boundaries and national borders.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

2. Organizations and individuals engaged in surveying activities related to administrative boundaries at all levels and national borders.

Delimitation of administrative boundaries

In this technical regulation, the following terms are understood as follows:

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

a) is the act of determining the administrative boundary lines, setting up administrative boundary markers on the ground, and reflecting them on maps with the confirmation of relevant administrative units; Adjustment of administrative boundaries

b) is the establishment of new, merger, division of administrative units, or adjustment of natural area and population of one or more administrative units for one or more other administrative units according to the decision of the competent state agency; Dispute over administrative boundaries

c) is the act of disputing the right to manage land, water surfaces, islands, and maritime islands related to administrative boundaries of adjacent administrative units; Boundary delimitation and marker placement

d) is the act of delineating the border lines and placing national boundary markers on the ground based on the results of the demarcation of border lines between countries sharing borders; Sea and islands

đ) is a concept encompassing elements related to border lines, maritime boundaries, and islands, island groups under the sovereignty of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Specialized map of the national border line

e) is a topographic map showing the results of resolving the border line on land between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and neighboring countries; Specialized diagram of the national border line

g) is a diagram drawn from a topographic map showing the results of resolving the border line on land between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and neighboring countries; Specialized nautical chart for demarcation of borders and maritime boundaries

h)||| is a nautical chart showing the results of resolving the border lines, maritime boundaries of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with neighboring countries; Standard set of maps on borders and islands

i) is a set of maps fully reflecting the results of resolving border lines on land, maritime boundaries, and elements related to islands between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and neighboring countries or according to the policy of the Vietnamese State; this set of maps is used to guide and verify the representation of the national border and islands on maps. STATE MANAGEMENT OF SURVEYING AND MAPPING WORK RELATED TO ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES

Section 2

1. Responsibilities of ministries, sectors, and People's Committees at all levels for surveying and mapping work related to administrative boundaries

1.1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) Issuing technical regulations and economic-technical norms for the delimitation of administrative boundaries, the preparation of administrative boundary files;

b) Participating in the review of administrative boundary files at all levels;

c) Taking the lead in reviewing the representation of administrative boundary lines on various types of maps specified in point a, Clause 4.1 of this Section before selling or submitting for storage;

d) Collecting necessary surveying and mapping materials and coordinating with competent state agencies to resolve disputes over administrative boundaries;

e) Collecting and updating information on changes in administrative boundaries at all levels. Providing materials and maps related to administrative boundaries to state agencies, organizations, and individuals in accordance with the law.

1.2. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs:

a) Issuing regulations on procedures and formalities for the delimitation and adjustment of administrative boundaries, the preparation and management of administrative boundary files, and the management of administrative boundary markers;

b) Guiding localities in organizing the implementation of administrative boundary delimitation according to the decisions of competent state agencies;

c) Taking the lead in reviewing administrative boundary files at all levels;

d) Participating in directing the representation of administrative boundary lines on maps in areas where there are disputes over administrative boundaries;

e) Providing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of National Defense with materials on changes in administrative boundaries at all levels immediately after the decision on the adjustment of administrative boundaries by competent authorities; providing administrative boundary materials to state agencies, organizations, and individuals in accordance with the law.

1.3. Responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense:

Reflecting administrative boundary lines at all levels on products such as maps established by the Ministry of National Defense for defense and security purposes based on administrative boundary materials provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

1.4. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels:

a) Preparing files for the delimitation and adjustment of administrative boundaries (if applicable); organizing the implementation of administrative boundary delimitation after receiving the decision of the competent state agency;

b) Providing materials and maps to serve the resolution of disputes over administrative boundaries upon request of competent state agencies;

c) Providing and guiding organizations and individuals permitted to establish and publish maps in their locality with administrative boundary materials to accurately reflect administrative boundary lines on maps.

2. Management and use of administrative boundary files and markers

2.1. Administrative boundary files at each level shall be stored at the People's Committee at that level, the higher-level People's Committee, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2.1. Administrative boundary records of which level shall be stored at the People's Committee of that level, the People's Committee of the higher level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Interior.

2.2. The People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns shall be responsible for managing administrative boundary markers on the ground at their localities; in cases where administrative boundary markers are displaced or damaged, they must promptly report in writing to the People's Committee of districts, urban districts, provincial cities, and centrally-run cities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the People's Committee of the district level), which will compile and report to the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the People's Committee of the provincial level) to develop a resolution plan.

2.3. The use of administrative boundary files shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 119/CP dated September 16, 1994 of the Government on the management and use of administrative boundary files, maps, and administrative boundary markers at all levels.

3. Quality Review of Administrative Boundary Files at All Levels

3.1. Review Authority

The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead and be responsible for reviewing the legal basis; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall cooperate and be responsible for reviewing technical contents.

3.2. Objects of Review

Administrative boundary files newly established or supplemented and revised according to decisions on delineation and adjustment of administrative boundaries by competent state agencies.

3.3. Administrative Boundary Files

Administrative boundary files include:

a) Decision of the competent state agency regarding the establishment of administrative units or adjustment of administrative boundaries (if applicable);

b) Administrative boundary map;

c) Diagram showing the positions of administrative boundary markers;

d) Table of coordinates of administrative boundary markers and characteristic points on the administrative boundary line;

đ) Description of the general situation of administrative boundaries;

e) Minutes confirming the description of the administrative boundary line;

g) Statistical form about geographic elements related to administrative boundaries;

h) Minutes of handover of administrative boundary markers;

i) Statistics of documents on administrative boundaries of subordinate administrative units.

3.4. Content of Review

The content of review includes:

a) Completeness of the file: The file must ensure all components specified in Point 3.3 of this Section;

b) Legal validity of the file: The file must have signatures and seals of the local administrative unit, relevant administrative units, and superior administrative agencies;

c) Accuracy of the file: Descriptions of the administrative boundary line and boundary markers must match the diagram showing marker positions, administrative boundary maps, and correspond to the actual site;

d) Consistency of the file: The representation of the administrative boundary line and marker positions in the file of lower-level administrative units must be consistent with those in the files of adjacent administrative units and higher-level administrative units.

3.5. Procedure for Review

The review process shall be conducted as follows:

a) After completing the establishment or supplementation and revision of administrative boundary files at all levels according to decisions on delineation and adjustment of administrative boundaries by competent state agencies, the People's Committee of the province shall submit a written report to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for organization of review.

b) Within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of complete files for review, the Ministry of Home Affairs shall organize the review in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

c) The results of the review shall be documented in writing. The review document shall be prepared in three (03) copies, one copy sent to the People's Committee of the province, one copy retained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and one copy retained by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

d) Within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of the review document, the People's Committee of the province shall be responsible for supplementing and revising the administrative boundary files and submitting a written report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of the report, the Ministry of Home Affairs shall examine and issue a decision to archive, manage, and use the administrative boundary files.

3.6. Responsibilities of the People's Committee of the Province

The People's Committee of the province shall be responsible for fully supplementing and revising the contents according to the opinions of the reviewing agencies.

4. Review of the Representation of Administrative Boundary Lines and Related Elements on Maps Before Publication or Submission for Archiving

4.1. Review Authority and Objects of Review

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall review topographic maps and base maps at scales of 1/50,000 and larger printed on paper or complete digital maps, national administrative maps, and provincial administrative maps.

b) The Ministry of National Defense shall review maps established and published by the Ministry of National Defense for defense and security purposes.

c) In addition to the maps specified in sub-point a of this point, organizations and individuals who survey and establish maps or publish maps (collectively referred to as map publishing entities) shall be responsible for representing administrative boundary lines at all levels on the maps and must clearly note the source of the materials used.

4.2. Review Files

Review files include:

a) A document requesting review;

b) Types of maps proposed for review as specified in sub-point a of Point 4.1 of this Section.

4.3. Content of Review

The content of review includes:

a) Administrative boundary lines and markers represented on the map;

b) Topographical features, objects, place names, water systems, and residential areas related to administrative boundary lines and markers at all levels represented on the map.

4.4. Procedure for Review

The review process shall be conducted as follows:

a) Map publishing entities shall submit two (02) sets of review files as specified in Point 4.2 of this Section to the reviewing agency for review.

b) Within twenty-five (25) working days from the date of receipt of complete valid files, the reviewing agency must complete the review. The review results shall be sent to the map publishing entity one (01) set and one (01) set retained by the reviewing agency.

If the map has no errors, the reviewing agency shall confirm its publication or submission for archiving; if the map has errors, the reviewing agency shall require the map publishing entity to correct and supplement them.

4.5. Responsibilities of Map Publishing Entities

a) Contact the reviewing agency to obtain guidance and provide information and materials related to administrative boundaries.

b) Fully supplement and revise the contents according to the requirements of the reviewing agency; in case of different opinions, report to the reviewing agency for unified resolution.

c) Send one (01) set of the product after publication to the reviewing agency for archiving.

Section 3

STATE MANAGEMENT OF SURVEYING AND MAP WORK RELATING TO NATIONAL BOUNDARIES

1. Responsibilities of Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces bordering national boundaries and seas and islands for surveying and map work relating to national boundaries

1.1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a) Issuing technical regulations and economic-technical norms for activities related to surveying and mapping of national boundaries and seas and islands;

b) Leading the implementation of surveying and mapping work of national boundaries and seas and islands to ensure the accuracy of coordinates and heights of boundary markers, points dividing maritime boundaries, and base points for calculating the width of territorial waters;

c) Participating in demarcation and setting up boundary markers on land, delimitation of maritime boundaries to ensure the accuracy of the representation of the national boundary lines and boundary markers on maps and nautical charts;

d) Organizing negotiations with the technical responsible agencies of neighboring countries to unify technical standards for surveying and mapping work serving national boundaries and seas and islands;

đ) Leading and coordinating with relevant agencies to evaluate the accuracy of various types of maps and nautical charts serving national boundaries and seas and islands;

e) Leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to build and update standard maps about national boundaries and seas and islands;

g) Leading the technical review of the representation of national boundaries and seas and islands on various types of maps and nautical charts before publication or submission for storage;

h) Providing guidance and information about national boundaries and seas and islands to map publishing units in accordance with the law;

1.2. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Leading negotiations with neighboring countries to unify legal bases for implementing surveying and mapping work relating to national boundaries and seas and islands;

b) Ensuring legal bases for coordinate data of boundary markers, coordinates of points dividing land and maritime boundary lines, and base points for calculating the width of territorial waters;

c) Ensuring legal bases for the national boundary lines on maps, diagrams, and nautical charts attached to international treaties on delimitation of land and maritime boundaries between Vietnam and neighboring countries;

d) Leading the organization of demarcation and setting up boundary markers on land and delimitation of maritime boundaries;

đ) Timely informing relevant ministries, sectors, and localities of new information about national boundaries and seas and islands to serve surveying and map publication work;

e) Participating in building standard maps about national boundaries and seas and islands; in cases where the national boundary has not been demarcated and marked according to international treaties or delimited with neighboring countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to unify the representation of national boundaries and seas and islands in accordance with state policy; participating in reviewing legal bases to resolve issues related to the representation of national boundaries and seas and islands on maps and nautical charts;

1.3. Responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense

a) Issuing regulations on procedures, formalities, licensing, and supervision of surveying and mapping work in border and sea areas under the Ministry of National Defense's jurisdiction;

b) Implementing surveying and mapping work to serve defense and security purposes in border and sea areas under the Ministry of National Defense's jurisdiction;

c) Ensuring security for organizations conducting surveying and mapping work in border and sea areas;

1.4. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs

Providing administrative place names in border areas and sea and island areas;

1.5. Responsibilities of the People's Committee of provinces bordering national boundaries and seas and islands

a) Participating in demarcation and setting up boundary markers on land, surveying islands and archipelagos within their jurisdiction;

b) Creating conditions for organizations to conduct surveying and mapping work relating to national boundaries and seas and islands within their jurisdiction;

2. Management, exploitation, and utilization of surveying and mapping materials relating to national boundaries

2.1. Management of surveying and mapping materials relating to national boundaries

a) The set of maps, diagrams, and nautical charts attached to international treaties on land and maritime national boundaries is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment stores one (01) set for state management purposes;

b) Surveying, mapping, and materials related to national boundaries and seas and islands concerning land and maritime national boundaries are stored at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

c) Films and photographs taken from aircraft, edited films for printing maps related to land and maritime national boundaries are stored at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

2.2. Exploitation and utilization of surveying and mapping materials relating to national boundaries

a) Ministries, sectors, localities, and organizations and individuals requiring exploitation and utilization of specialized materials, maps, diagrams, and nautical charts about national boundaries and seas and islands must obtain written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

b) Provision of information and surveying and mapping materials about national boundaries and seas and islands to foreign organizations and individuals shall be carried out in accordance with the law;

c) Agencies and organizations may not display or use maps and nautical charts with errors regarding national boundaries and seas and islands in public offices or when dealing with foreign organizations and individuals;

3. Review of the representation of national boundaries and factors related to national boundaries and seas and islands on various types of maps and nautical charts before publication or submission for storage

3.1. Authority and objects of review

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review national boundaries and seas and islands on printed publications or complete digital maps before publication or submission for storage according to standard maps about national boundaries and seas and islands;

b) The Ministry of National Defense reviews maps, diagrams, and nautical charts published by the Ministry of National Defense to serve defense and security;

3.2. Review documents

Review files include:

a) Request for review of national boundaries and seas and islands;

b) Complete printed maps, diagrams, and nautical charts or complete digital maps related to land and maritime national boundaries that need to be reviewed;

3.3. Content of review

The content of review includes:

a) Representation of national boundaries, boundary markers, and seas and islands on maps, nautical charts, and diagrams;

b) Topographical features, objects, hydrological systems, residential areas, and place names related to the border, border markers, and islands depicted on maps, nautical charts, and diagrams.

3.4. Procedure for Review

The review process shall be conducted as follows:

a) The map publisher submits two (02) sets of files as prescribed in point 3.2 of this Section to the reviewing authority for review;

b) Within twenty-five (25) working days from the date of receipt of complete valid files, the reviewing authority must complete the review process. The review results shall be sent to the map publisher one (01) set, and retained at the reviewing authority one (01) set;

If the map has no errors, the reviewing agency shall confirm its publication or submission for archiving; if the map has errors, the reviewing agency shall require the map publishing entity to correct and supplement them.

3.5. Responsibilities of the Map Publisher

a) Contact the reviewing authority to obtain guidance and provide relevant information concerning borders, islands;

b) Supplement and amend all contents according to the reviewing authority's requirements; in case of differing opinions, report to the reviewing authority for resolution.

c) Send one (01) set of the product after publication to the reviewing agency for archiving.

Section 4

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Organizations and individuals publishing, distributing, and circulating map products with errors regarding administrative boundaries, national borders, and islands shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal liability追究行政责任，依照法律规定。

2. This Circular takes effect fifteen (15) days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial People's Committees under central cities, organizations, and individuals involved in surveying and mapping activities concerning administrative boundaries and national borders shall be responsible for implementing this Circular. Any issues encountered during implementation should be promptly reported to the relevant ministries for resolution./.